Amboise holds an eminent place in France's history. The great age of Amboise was the 15C when the Chateau was enlarged by Louis XI and Charles VIII. Charles visited Italy and was much impressed by the artistic standards he saw there. He returned to France in 1495 with a large collection of furniture and materials, and proceeded to hire a team of scholars, architects, artists, sculptors and gardeners to transform Amboise into a suitable setting for royal entertainments. Under François I court life and festivities at Amboise reached new heights. The wing of the Chateau begun by Louis XI was completed by Francois I and his mother between 1517 and 1520. The interior decoration of Italian workmanship has almost totally disappeared, except in the one surviving building from the period - the Chapelle St-Hubert. Of particular interest is the sculptured panel above the doorway to the chapel, attributed to a Flemish artist, which depicts the stories of St-Hubert and the miraculous stag, and St. Christopher and St. Anthony in the desert. The interior carvings are more Italian in style and execution. The gardens were laid out by Pacello da Mercogliano, a Neopolitan. The Italian connection at Amboise is noteworthy for another reason: it is the only castle in France that was sketched by Leonardo da Vinci. This famous Italian figure also lived until his death in 1519 in the manor house of Le Clos-Luce, close to Amboise, which was provided by Francois I, King of France. There is a modern bust of Leonardo da Vinci in the gardens of the Chateau. Today, the Chäteau d' Amboise belongs to the Compte de Paris, a direct descendant of FranceÍs last royal line, and is used as a hospice for family retainers. Research by Olga Williams-Klement, B. Arch., RIBA, for Archivision